Electrical contact and edge connector having such a contact



Dec. 19, 1967 T. W. BOWLEY ET AL ELECTRICAL CONTACT AND EDGE CONNECTORHAVING SUCH A CONTACT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1966 INVENTORS77/0/1176 W/L L IHM 50 Wt. E y g a m m m m J A 2 5; M m... P Y B Dec.19, 1967 w. BOWLEY ET AL 3,359,532

ELECTRICAL CONTACT AND EDGE CONNECTOR HAVING SUCH A CONTACT Filed March30, 1966 P Sheets-Sheei 2 lNvEN'roRs ATTORNEY United States PatentOfifice 3,359,532 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 3,359,532 ELECTRICAL CONTACTAND EDGE CONNECTOR HAVING SUCH A CONTACT Thomas William Bowley,Bramcote, and Leslie Haynes Smith, West Bridgford, England, assiguors toUnited- Carr Incorporated, Boston, Mass., a corporation of DelawareFiled Mar. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 538,787 Claims priority, application GreatBritain, Apr. 12, 1965, 15,462/65 Claims. (Cl. 339-217) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention is directed at an electrical connector havingan insulating body with a cavity formed therein and a series oftwo-piece contacts assembled in the cavity, with the contacts havingrigid tail portions.

This invention relates to electrical tacts for assembly therein.

According to the present invention, an electrical connector comprises abody of insulating material having a cavity opening at one end on to oneface of the body to define a conductor receiving opening, a contactassembled in the cavity through said opening and including a rigid metalpost element extending axially Within said cavity and a resilient metalarm secured to the post and extending inwardly of the cavity forresiliently engaging a conductor to be inserted, the post elementincluding an angularly disposed end portion formed with lateralprojections for snapping under a shoulder in the connector body adjacentthe open end of the conductor receiving opening, the post element alsoincluding a tail projecting outwardly of the opposite face of theconnector body for attachment to a lead wire.

The engagement of the post element with the shoulder serves to preventthe contact being displaced within the cavity in the direction of theopen end of the conductor receiving opening and also serves to take upthe thrust normally imparted to the contact when a tool is used toattach a lead wire to the tail.

Movement of the contact in an opposite direction is prevented byprojections on the post element abutting a shoulder in the cavity.

The invention also includes a contact for assembly in an electricalconnector comprising a rigid metal post element including an elongatedbody having an end portion extending in angular relation to theremainder and provided with lateral projections, a resilient metal armbeing secured to the post element adjacent the inner end of saidangularly disposed end portion.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, it will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of part of an electrical edge connector for aprinted panel;

F IGURE 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in under plan of the connector;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 1V1V of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a part sectional view on an enlarged scale of the body ofthe connector with a contact as sembled therein; and

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the contact.

As illustrated in the drawings, an edge connector for a printed circuitpanel comprises a body 1 of insulating material formed with alongitudinally extending panel receiving slot 2 and contact receivingcavities 3 opening connectors and conon to the slot, each cavityincluding an opening 4 opening on to the upper or panel receiving face 5of the body 1.

Each outer side wall of the body is formed with a recess 6 adjacent theface 5, and the portion of the side wall on each side of the recessbeing shaped to provide a shoulder 7. Each cavity 3 extends axiallythrough the body 1 and terminates in an aperture 8 opening on to theunder face 9 of the connector body.

It will be understood that the connector body is provided with aplurality of cavities 3 in opposed relation on opposite sides of theslot 2.

The contact assembly for mounting in the connector is particularlyillustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 and, as shown, comprises an elongatedrigid metal post element 10 of oblong shape in cross-section and aresilient metal element. The post includes a medial body portion 11, atail 12 at one end and an angularly disposed resilient portion 13 at theopposite end having lateral projecting arms 14 so that it is ofgenerally cruciform shape.

The resilient metal element comprises a base 15, reversely bent armportions 16, and end portions 17 which are further reversely bent so asto extend between the portions 15 and 16 and abut the portion 15 so asto urge the arms 16 outwardly.

The base 15 has an extension 18 which is secured, as by welding, to thebody portion 11 of the post adjacent the inner end of the angularlydisposed end portion 13.

The contacts are adapted to be assembled with the connector by insertingthem tail first into the cavities 3 through the openings 4, and as theyare inserted, the portion 13 of the post will fiex to ride over the sidewall of the cavity 3 until the lateral projections 14 snap under theshoulders 7 with the tip 13a extending into the recess 6. When thusassembled, the shoulders 19 on the main body 11 of the post will rest onshoulders 20 in the recess so that the contact is retained against axialmovement in the opposite direction.

Preferably the main body of the post is formed with protuberances 21which are adapted to make an interference fit with the walls of thecavity so as to centralise the contacts and prevent any tendency forlateral displacement.

It will be noted that when the contacts are assembled, the main bodyportion 11 of the post element is disposed within the cavity 3, and thetail 12 projects outwardly of the end face 9 of the connector bodythrough a slot 8a. The resilient arms 16 project inwardly of the slot 2so as resiliently to engage the printed circuitry of a panel when thelatter is inserted edgewise into the slot.

The abutment of the lateral projections 14 of the post with theshoulders 7 positively prevents axial movement of the contact in adirection of withdrawal, and this is an important feature when leadwires are to be attached to the tails 12 by a tool for example, a wirewrapping tool, which in use would tend to exert a considerable axial andinward thrust on the tailpieces 12. With the arrangement according tothe present invention, this thrust is taken up by the shoulders 7.

Another important advantage of the invention is that the contacts areinsertable from the panel receiving face of the connector body and arereadily withdrawn when desired through this face by deflecting theportion 13 of the post inwardly to clear the lateral projections 14 fromthe shoulders 7. Accordingly, each contact can be individually withdrawnfor replacement should any fault develop in the contact or circuitryconnected therewith.

It will be noted that the tip 13a of the post element is exposed in therecess 6, and accordingly provides a convenient test point to enable thecontact or the circuitry connected therewith to be checked by a suitabletest probe.

While in the particular embodiment described and illustrated, pairs ofopposed contact receiving cavities 3 are provided, if desired, theconnector may be formed with a single row of cavities on one side of theslot 2.

We claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising a body of insulating materialhaving a cavity opening at one end On to one face of the body to definea conductor receiving opening, a two-piece contact assembled in thecavity through said opening and including as one piece rigid metal postelement extending axially within said cavity and as a second piece aresilient metal arm secured to the post and extending inwardly of thecavity for resiliently engaging a conductor to be inserted, the postelement including an angularly disposed end portion formed with lateralprojections for snapping under a shoulder in the connector body adjacentthe open end of the conductor receiving opening, the post element alsoincluding a tail projecting outwardly of the opposite face of theconnector body for attachment to a lead wire.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder islocated in a recess in an outer side wall of the body so that a portionof the post element extends into the recess so as to be accessible forengagement by an externally applied test probe.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the postelement comprises an elongated metal body having a portion at one endextending at an angle to the remainder of the body for snapping underthe shoulder, the resilient arm being secured to the body of the postelement adjacent the inner end of the angular end portion.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the angular endportion is of cruciform shape including opposed laterally extending armseach engaging the said shoulder.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the elongatedbody of the post element is formed with protuberances on opposed sideedges adapted to engage the respective adjacent walls of the cavity tocentralise the contact in the cavity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,953,765 9/1960 Greasley 339-2173,085,220 4/1963 Sitz 339217 3,192,498 6/1965 Reuhlernann 3392173,271,728 9/1966 Beauchaine 339-217 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,393 9/1954Belgium.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

R. S. STROBEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING A BODY OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING A CAVITY OPENING AT ONE END ON TO ONE FACE OF THE BODY TO DEFINE A CONDUCTOR RECEIVING OPENING, A TWO-PIECE CONTACT ASSEMBLED IN THE CAVITY THROUGH SAID OPENING AND INCLUDING AS ONE PIECE RIGID METAL POST ELEMENT EXTENDING AXIALLY WITHIN SAID CAVITY AND AS A SECOND PIECE A RESILIENT METAL ARM SECURED TO THE POST AND EXTENDING INWARDLY OF THE CAVITY FOR RESILIENTLY ENGAGING A CONDUCTOR TO BE INSERTED, THE POST ELEMENT INCLUDING AN ANGULARLY DISPOSED END PORTION FORMED WITH LATERAL PROJECTIONS FOR SNAPPING UNDER A SHOULDER IN THE CONNECTOR BODY ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF THE CONDUCTOR RECEIVING OPENING, THE POST ELEMENT ALSO INCLUDING A TAIL PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF THE OPPOSITE FACE OF THE CONNECTOR BODY FOR ATTACHMENT TO A LEAD WIRE. 